Nothing says you mean business like a suit. But give stuffy visions of Alan Sugar-style ensembles a wide berth and work this season's suiting instead.
Tailoring has got a stylish revamp for spring with sharp shoulders, natty waistcoats and tapered trousers featuring on the spring/summer catwalks. Paul Smith, Yves Saint Laurent and Todd Lynn all put tailored chic high on the fashion agenda for this season. Their shows proved that smart tailoring doesn't have to mean all-grown-up and grey. Paul Smith's Harry Potter glasses - along with slouchy cuts - gave his tailoring a youthful edge.
Don't go all investment banker in style or expenditure, but one thing you can put money on is the tailoring trend's staying power. This isn't a look that's set to bow out once summer draws to a close. Skirt suits were all over the autumn/winter 2008 catwalks too, meaning your new Miss Prim and Proper look will be anything but a one-suit wonder.
Put your best serious face on and work the suited and booted look for spring.
Suits you, madam
If you're guilty of arriving to work looking like you've run for the bus even though you've just stepped out of your car, it's time to smarten up. Investing in a tailored suit will do wonders for your work wardrobe.
Either spruce up your look with a crisp shirt or pare down with a cool white tee.
Whether you want to go for trousers, skirt, or even shorts for high summer, there's a suit for you to wow in this season. If you don't want to trawl the high street for tailored basics, a suit is the easy option for sharpening up your workwear ensembles in one effortless swoop.
One-piece additions
Don't fancy going top-to-toe dapper? You can still tap into the tailored trend with a couple of structured basics. A tailored suit jacket, super-smart trousers or a skirt are all you need to access tailored chic.
As British designer Todd Lynn said of his tailored essentials: "This isn't about looking masculine, it's about a great fit and a fearless approach to dressing, without the appearance of the old power suit."
For versatility and staying power, choose your tailored basics in neutral shades such as black, white, grey, ivory and stone. When trying on bottom half staples, take your fiercest high heels with you so you can gauge whether hemlines will be too short or long once you're in full tailored glory. This is not a look that will work with timid flats.
Casual chic
Tailored look still turning your stomach? For those scruffy-chic fashionistas who can't bare to do smart, there is an escape route... blazers, tuxedos and waistcoats are tailored staples that don't scream out super-smart. Think Kate Moss in her famous Jaeger star shirt, teamed with fitted waistcoat and tailored trousers.
Blazers - a big trend for spring/summer - are an instant way of injecting some instant-smart into your wardrobe and a great alternative to a more structured suit jacket. A natty tuxedo is another tailored relation that will transform even grungy rock chick to respectable girl about town.
Tailoring has got a stylish revamp for spring with sharp shoulders, natty waistcoats and tapered trousers featuring on the spring/summer catwalks. Paul Smith, Yves Saint Laurent and Todd Lynn all put tailored chic high on the fashion agenda for this season. Their shows proved that smart tailoring doesn't have to mean all-grown-up and grey. Paul Smith's Harry Potter glasses - along with slouchy cuts - gave his tailoring a youthful edge.
Don't go all investment banker in style or expenditure, but one thing you can put money on is the tailoring trend's staying power. This isn't a look that's set to bow out once summer draws to a close. Skirt suits were all over the autumn/winter 2008 catwalks too, meaning your new Miss Prim and Proper look will be anything but a one-suit wonder.
Put your best serious face on and work the suited and booted look for spring.
Suits you, madam
If you're guilty of arriving to work looking like you've run for the bus even though you've just stepped out of your car, it's time to smarten up. Investing in a tailored suit will do wonders for your work wardrobe.
Either spruce up your look with a crisp shirt or pare down with a cool white tee.
Whether you want to go for trousers, skirt, or even shorts for high summer, there's a suit for you to wow in this season. If you don't want to trawl the high street for tailored basics, a suit is the easy option for sharpening up your workwear ensembles in one effortless swoop.
One-piece additions
Don't fancy going top-to-toe dapper? You can still tap into the tailored trend with a couple of structured basics. A tailored suit jacket, super-smart trousers or a skirt are all you need to access tailored chic.
As British designer Todd Lynn said of his tailored essentials: "This isn't about looking masculine, it's about a great fit and a fearless approach to dressing, without the appearance of the old power suit."
For versatility and staying power, choose your tailored basics in neutral shades such as black, white, grey, ivory and stone. When trying on bottom half staples, take your fiercest high heels with you so you can gauge whether hemlines will be too short or long once you're in full tailored glory. This is not a look that will work with timid flats.
Casual chic
Tailored look still turning your stomach? For those scruffy-chic fashionistas who can't bare to do smart, there is an escape route... blazers, tuxedos and waistcoats are tailored staples that don't scream out super-smart. Think Kate Moss in her famous Jaeger star shirt, teamed with fitted waistcoat and tailored trousers.
Blazers - a big trend for spring/summer - are an instant way of injecting some instant-smart into your wardrobe and a great alternative to a more structured suit jacket. A natty tuxedo is another tailored relation that will transform even grungy rock chick to respectable girl about town.